By Chris Cornford
The first Covid-19 vaccination on the Island took place on Tuesday (December 15), with 98-year-old Kenneth Killeen, from Newport, first through the door of the Carisbrooke Health Centre ready to get the jab.
Mr Killeen, who has two children, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren, served in the RAF during World War Two. He said: “It’s not been an easy year for anyone – particularly with lockdown. A lot of elderly people were confined in their homes.
“I didn’t expect to be front of the queue, but very pleased to be. I fully respect people who won’t want it on various grounds, but if you can, you should. Particularly when you think of medical science now to how it was 98 years ago when I arrived.”
Giving the vaccination was GP Dr Myrto Kaklamanou. She said: “This has been a really busy, but a very exciting, week for us and we are proud to be delivering the Covid-19 vaccination.
“Of course though, we know that this will be a marathon and not a sprint. While it’s great we can start the vaccination programme, we know that the virus will still be in the community for many more months.
The first frontline healthcare worker on the Island received her vaccination on Wednesday. GP Dr Judith Moore also had her Covid jab in Carisbrooke Health Centre. All those vaccinated will need a booster jab 21 days later.
West Wight Sports and Community Centre was yesterday confirmed as a vaccination centre and will begin offering vaccinations over the next few days. More centres will be announced over the coming weeks.
Isle of Wight Observer